Automatic train-stop device.



A. E. HUDSON.

AUTOMATIC mm STOP DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, I913.

' Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

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fiLE-HUDEIDIVI A. E HUDSON. AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED-JUNE 7. l9l3. 1AA Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

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' rrun sira rns rarrswr onmbn ALBERT EDMUND HUDSON, OF CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-$TOIP DEVICE.

Application filed June '7, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT EDMUND HUD- son, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Calgary, Province of Alberta, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Stop Devices, of which the following is the specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic train stop devices, and the objects of the invention are to provide a simple and effective device by which a train may be stopped automatically in the event of a signal being disregarded, or may be stopped manually by a station operator, if desired.

Further objects are to insure the positive stop of the train by automatically applying the brakes, closing the throttle and applying sand to the rails.

Further objects still are to improve and simplify the mechanical construction of the various instrumentalities forming part of the whole invention, to so construct the device that snow and ice can not interfere with the operation and to prevent interference with the trip device by a low pilot engine or a snow plow or the like.

Other objects will appear hereafter.

For a complete understanding of the invention reference must be had to the accompanying specification and drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating part of an engine and the track. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail through the trip device and the operating device carried by the engine with the trip device raised. Fig. 3 is a cross section through the operating device on the engine.

Tn t e drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the trip device located on the road-bed outside the rail, about four inches space being usually allowed between the rail and the inner side of this device.

B represents the actuating device carried by the train and preferably by the engine, adapted to be engaged and operated by the trip device as hereinafter explained.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, which illustrate the track detent device, 10 represents the casing adapted to support and protect the moving parts. 11 is a shaft extending transversely through the casing and carrying a balance weight 12 on the outslde Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20 1915.

Serial no. 772,287.

of the casing, which is adapted to tend to maintain the device in normal position and to restore it thereto. The balance weight is connected by acord or chain 13 or like element to the semaphore or switch lever whereby when the semaphore is set at stop position or when the switch is open the balance weight 12, which also forms a lever, may be moved to raise the trip device. A separate cord or chain 1 1 may also be provided by which the trip may be raised manually by the station operator. The shaft 11 carries a lever 15, the extremity of which is connected by a link 16 with a vertically movable sleeve or thimble 17 which is vertically reciprocable within a suitable cylindrical socket 18. Vertically movable within the sleeve or thimble 17 is the plunger pin 19 of the abutment member 20, which abutment member is formed with inclined faces 21 and 22 extending in opposite directions and adapted to be engaged by tappet means carried from the actuating device B. The plunger pin 19 is normally maintained in raised position by means of a spring 23 extending between the end of the thimble 17 and the end of a recess 24: in the plunger pin, the upward movement of the plunger pin being limited by means of a set screw 25 on the sleeve 17 which extends into a longitudinal slot 26 on the plan ger pin. The abutment member is adapted to be locked in lowered position so that it may not be raised improperly by persons along the track, by means of a pivoted dog 27 mounted within the casing, the upper end of which is adapted to engage a hook shaped projection 28 on the abutment member, the dog being spring held in engaged position by means of a U-shaped flat spring 29. The dog is adapted to be released when the device is operated by means of an inclined projection 30 carried by the sleeve member 17. It will be seen that the spring 23 permits the abutment member to be depressed downwardly when raised without interfering with the interior mechanism so that upon being so depressed it will return at once to normal position. This is to provide for the passage of snow plows or pilot engines or the like which would otherwise interfere with or break the device.

The actuating device is carried by the engine as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It comprises a casing 31 in which is mounted a reciprocable plunger 32 carrying a cross shaft 38 with tappet wheels 34 adapted to ble means connected with the train line to V release'the airpressure and set the brakes and operate the other devices as hereinafter explained. The form of frangible device which I have illustrated comprises a glass plate 37mounted on a seat 38 provided on an auxiliary casing 39 connected to the top of the casing 31 and retained in. place by a gasket 40 and nipple 4:1 held in place by a screw threaded cap 42. The nipple 4:1 is connected to the train line piping 43 so that when the glass plate or disk is broken by the raising of the pin 36 the pressure in the train line will bereleased. The pin is normally retained in lowermost position by means of a spiral spring 4-1 surrounding the pinand abutting'the casing 39 at one end and the head 45 of the pin at the other. An

-- outlet for the escaping air is provided by apertures 46 in the casing 39.

The reduction of the pressure in the train line, pipe .isadapted as well as setting the brakes to move the throttle lever and the sanding device. p Having now described the various parts of the invention the nature of operation will be briefly described.

The raising'of the semaphore to stop position or opening of the switch will automatically raise the, trip device as already explained. Upon the train disregarding the signals and attempting to pass the trip device the glass in the operating device will be broken as already explained and the pressure thereby reduced in the train line pipe causing the brakes to be applied in the usual way and closing the throttle and operating the sanding device as already explained. The engineer must then replace the glass plate 37 and reset the device.

It will be seen that the device enables an operator, agent or tower signal operator, or trainman throwing a switch to control and stop a train or engine of any description, regardless of the engine or train crew, and will prevent an accident due to the engine or train crew not obeying a train signal set at stop and gives the operator or agent a block system at his own particular station. It also gives the station staff power to stop a train that has passed an orderboard set against it. Further, it protects the rear of the train when taking a passing track and generally enables the train to be stopped whenever desired by means external to itself.

It may be explained that the spring 23 is sufficiently strong to cause the abutment member to operate the actuating means as already explained, but will permit it to yield downwardly under excessive pressure when produced by a snow plow or other device passing the trip device.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention, within the scope of the claim, constructed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specifications and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

In a device of the type described means for releasing the pressure in the train line pipe comprising, a casing, a reciprocable plunger mounted therein, a cross shaft carried by said plunger and extending through slots formed in said casing, an auxiliary casing having an internally screw threaded portion mounted on said casing and providing a valve seat, a frangible valve seating thereon, means for holding the valve upon the seat comprising a nipple connected to the train line pipe, a cap adapted to hold said nipple in place provided with internal screw threads engaging the threaded portion of said auxiliary casing, and a gasket interposed between said valve and said nipple, a pin carried by said plunger member adapted to break said valve, and a pair of tappet wheels carried by said cross shaft adapted to engage a track detent.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT EDMUND HUDSON.

Witnesses:

THOMAS BATE, D. R. Cnrorrron.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. 

